AS the cost of living crisis bites, one thing you can’t switch off to save money is your fridge freezer. 

But you can make sure you aren’t making any simple mistakes that will cost you more money.

Common faux pas like leaving the door open or letting ice build up in the freezer tray will add to your running costs. 

So simple tips could really help as the cost of living rises for millions households. 

Energy prices are at an all time high and are expected to rise further this year, putting more pressure on family finances.

Bills rocketed back in April when the energy price cap leapt to £1,971.

And new analysis has forecast that bills will rocket by another £1,300 this October to an eye-watering £3,244.

If you are using your fridge freezer all wrong then you could be adding more to your bills than necessary.

Here are the mistakes you've been making, and how to cut costs.

If you don't defrost your freezer compartment regularly it could add as much as £150 a year to your bill based on today's prices.

When ice builds up, it increases the amount of work your freezer’s motor needs to do to keep your food cool. 

And the harder your motor is working, the more energy you are using. 

To avoid the problem, watch out for a build up of ice (you'll probably notice it when one of the drawers jams!) and take this as a sign you're due a defrost.

You should also try to avoid squeezing in too much food in your fridge or freezer.

When your appliance is overstuffed it can make it harder to keep your food cold, forcing the motor to work harder.

Experts at Energyhelpline told The Sun: "Unclutter your fridge - make sure it isn’t packed to the brim.

"This is particularly important near the ventilating outlets, as keeping space at the top and sides of your fridge helps the cool air move around more easily."

This doesn’t mean you should keep your fridge too empty though as this can waste energy too - but do a regular stock take to check it's not filled up with items you don't need (or which are past their best).

There are some items, however, that can actually help you keep your appliance cool such as bottles of tap water, which quickly chill or freeze and help cool other items too.

Where exactly in your kitchen you place your fridge is surprisingly important - spots could be troublesome if trying to keep costs to a minimum.

Experts at Uswitch said to place your appliance away from your cooker and make sure it isn't in direct sunlight.

That's because it's going to operate better in a cooler spot.

The heat from a cooker or too much sun shining onto your fridge freezer could impact its temperature. 

Keeping you fridge freezer at least 10cm from the wall is also important. 

This is because the appliance needs air circulation to allow its coils to work most efficiently to cool itself down. 

Experts at Repairaid said: "If your fridge doesn’t have the right ventilation, or lacks space around it, then this can drive energy efficiency down by as much as 15%."

Make sure you check the seals on your fridge freezer are in good order.

The principle is the same with draughts in your home but the other way around - with a fridge, you don't want the cool air to escape or hot air to get in.

Both scenarios will make your fridge work harder, using more energy in the process.

You can check whether the seals are working by opening the door, holding a bit of paper where the door shuts, and then closing it. 

If the paper can’t be pulled out, then your seal is working - but if the paper comes out you might have a problem. 

It’s a simple fix though and you should be able to replace the seals yourself without calling in a professional - they're usually available online for £30 to £100. 

It goes without saying that you shouldn't leave the fridge door open more than necessary.

When the door is open, the cold air is able to escape and your appliance will have to cool it down again, using more energy.

Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, told The Sun: “Try not to keep the doors open for too long, especially on hot days, as this will cause the temperature to rise, meaning your appliance will need to work harder to cool back down.”

Avoid the problem by trying to be quick when you're getting anything out of the fridge, or restocking it.

There are devices or specific fridges that have a camera inside so you can decide what to have for dinner or what you need to get at the supermarket without even opening the door.

Setting your fridge and freezer at the right temperature will make sure you're not wasting too much energy keeping things too cool - or risking spoiling you food if it's too warm.

Energy Saving Trust told The Sun: “The Food Standards Agency recommends your fridge is set at 5 degrees so it’s worth checking the internal temperature and adjusting it if you can."

The energy experts at Uswitch said a good temperature to keep your fridge at is between 3 and 5°C, and for your freezer it's -18 °C.

Those temperatures are recommended to keep your food cool and at a healthy and safe level without being so cold that your fridge has to work any harder than it needs to.

That will help keep your bills down as much as possible.

Next time you're cleaning the inside of your fridge, try to remember the back of it too.

If dust builds up on the condenser coils, it can prevent your appliance from cooling properly.

Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?

Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk

And if it’s particularly thick it can reduce the efficiency by as much as 25% according to Which?

You can use a vacuum cleaner to make sure all the dust and dirt is out of the way and not causing problems. 

You WON'T get £650 cost of living payment if you're in these categories

Top 20 cheapest petrol stations in the UK revealed - is there one near you?

I built my own swimming pool and now my house price has DOUBLED

One million people on State Pension to get £326 bank account boost TODAY

©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/